Swimming in the Web 2.0 stream

Something extremely unique about social media is the flow of information in real time, whether it’s tweets or status updates on Facebook or LinkedIn. You might even say it is more like a “firehose” of information as opposed to a stream. It can be tough to keep up with all this information – almost like drinking from a firehose. Wonder what that is like, just watch this classicvideo example.

And what is interesting is the difference between “traditional” Web and Web 2.0. The traditional Web is more permanent. Web 2.0 is transient, or Sarah Yaussi from Big Builder recently said: “New media is like a paper cup – you use it and then you throw it away.”

For example, if you miss a tweet on Twitter, it’s soon fades away. As newer tweets pop up, the others get pushed farther down in the stream and eventually off to the next page, or the post is pushed out past your 100 updates on Tweetdeck. Gone.

Such fleeting moments are the social aspect of Web 2.0. It’s like walking into a party. You don’t walk around to everyone and ask, “What did I miss?” On Facebook, the same holds true. You’re not going to go back every 15 days to see what you’ve missed on every single person. You may go back and look at the interesting people, but you’re really only interested in what’s happening in the here and now. Anything older than a few days is ancient history. The same holds true for Twitter. What is happening today? Are you showing up in the “here and now”? You should spread out your posts so you’re not posting too much. And you do want to post insightful information and ideas that prompt other people to talk about it and comment back. This is the foundation of Internet marketing and PR at its finest.

2. Stay relevant and noteworthy. While some readers might find it fun to hear about your pet’s last trip to the litter box, avoid the temptation. Stay relevant and on focus with your audience.

3. Time your updates. Just as there is a good time to send an email for maximum visibility, there is the best time to update your status or send a tweet. Saturday at midnight is not good because your readers aren’t online. What day and time will your audience be looking? Send your information then.

4. Engage others. You will get more “action” when you hold real conversations online. More people will talk about and promote you if you are practicing the golden rule.

5. Put the conversation first. If your sole goals are marketing, traffic, and exposure – you’ve missed the whole point of social networking. This is Real Estate 2.0 and it starts with the conversation. Chat now. Sell later.

Just like attending a party in a physical location, at a digital party, it doesn’t matter if you show up late, but you need people to be part of the buzz all the time.